A good day .... followed by s disastrous one

**BigWilko** · 5th September 2018, 16:29

So yesterday i started diagnosing all the various clunks and clangs that i seem to have accumulated. I've been dreading doing my ARB bushes for about 12 years, so long in fact that the poly ones i ordered for my first vectra were still in the cupboard.... and were the wrong size. I was actually surprised at how east they were to do. The actual changing of them was only a 10 minute job. Getting all the tools out and prepping was what took the time. Whilst the car was in the air, i thought i may as well drop the oil and change the filter. Another job off the list. When was taking off the oil filter housing i noticed the drain plug on it (not the one on the sump) was pretty damn tight, but nothing more that usual. When putting it back on, it wouldn't tighten up. It nipped up more than finger tight, so i thought not much more of it.
Went out this morning to pick up a 32mm socket to do the N/S/F driveshaft and the car felt great. I'd cured 90% of the front end clangs and knocks. Got back, jacked up the car and to my horror found that the drain-plug had come loose and oil was sprayed all the way underneath the car.....

I nipped it up again and am hoping for the best. What's the chances i can find someone to sell be the bottom part of the filter housing without the oil cooler?
Anyway, i pressed on with changing the drive shaft. Got my new shiny 32mm socket out..... and i'd somehow picked up a 36mm!

. Borrowed the correct one from my neighbour. Everything was going swimmingly. I even managed to remove the driveshaft without pulling the car off the stands. I'd followed advice maticulously.... or so i thought. Jack one side up nice and high so that all the fluid doesn't P1$$ out? No, what i'd done is raised the axle stand and rested it onto a different place to where i normally put it which was actually lower. Because i was parked on an incline -rather than cocking the back wheel up- the driver's side had lifted too. So as i removed the driveshaft out came all the unexpected ATF..... all over me and the floor and the subframe and the EVERYTHING!!! I'm in a bit of a panic now as i've never had any dealings with Auto boxes and their fluid. I don't know how much fluid i've lost and i cant seem to find any info on where to fill it up. I'm guessing it's under the battery box as i can see the gear linkage assembly. It's a job for tomorrow anyhow as the motor-factor's that's within walking distance from me didn't have the required stuff in stock. 5L Arriving tomorrow. Hoping it's enough. Info i can find seems to point at 3.3L for a service top-up. Here's what i've found.

https://www.vectra-c.com/forum/uploa...d%20change.pdf

Any advice on this would be greatly appreciated. TIA

**Dog_Book** · 5th September 2018, 16:57

Have a look in the generic drivetrain section for auto box as the auto box isn’t engine specific. I’m sure many have done it and you will hopefully find your answers there. I was lucky when I did my NS shafts as I expected oil to come out so caught it in the drip tray.

**BigWilko** · 5th September 2018, 17:00

Cheers mate. Just out of interest. Is the fluid that came out ATF or gearbox oil? or are they the same thing in an auto?

**Mike_B_C** · 5th September 2018, 17:47

If you have the AF40-6 (AWTF-80 SC), this uses the AW-1 oil, which I think is a synthetic oil.

**BigWilko** · 5th September 2018, 18:18

Originally Posted by Mike_B_C

If you have the AF40-6 (AWTF-80 SC), this uses the AW-1 oil, which I think is a synthetic oil.

I have the af33....

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**BigWilko** · 5th September 2018, 19:53

Found this. Which should just about be everything i need to stop me panicking..... erm i mean everything i need to get it done.....

https://vectra-c.com/forum/showthrea...40-gearbox-oil

**fatfred** · 6th September 2018, 07:08

Life, just when you think your about to get a bj she turns out to be a homicidal maniac!

At least the knowledge is on here to stop to panicking.

**BigWilko** · 7th September 2018, 09:46

So it all got even worse today. Oil leak started and dumped 2 litres of oil on the ground during the test drive to check the gearbox after the ATF change. Then the gearbox dumped who knows how much oil out on the test drive when the newly fitted drive shaft SOMEHOW popped out of the gearbox slightly. I then spent the best part of 2 hours getting to the gearbox dipstick (no fun on the 3.0) to check the ATF level and the b@5t@rd snapped off in my hand. £50 for a new one....?!?!?

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